Tualatin River WatershedHillsboro’s water supply is from 220 square miles of the Tualatin River Watershed. The entire watershed is about 712 square miles in size and houses the upper-Tualatin River and Barney and Scoggins reservoirs, Hillsboro’s winter and summer drinking water sources.
As the warmer weather increases temperatures, state fire managers have increased the fire danger level to “high” in our watershed and the adjacent coast range, which means fires can start easily from most causes and small fuels (such as grasses and needles) will ignite readily.
Wildfires can have immediate and long-term effects on the ecosystem, birds, and wildlife, as well as our watershed, and the rivers, lakes, and streams it supports. Fires can destroy trees, vegetation, wildlife, and structures that get in their paths, and severely affect water quality by causing soil erosion, increased flooding, and debris flow.
Protecting the health and safety of our watershed is crucial – especially from human-caused wildfires. Below are simple ways you can help protect our watershed from wildfire:
Before recreating in the coast range or heading out to Barney Reservoir or Scoggins Reservoir (Hagg Lake), check your destination on the public fire restrictions map and follow the restrictions.
If campfires are allowed, use Smokey the Bear’s Safety Checklist to keep it from becoming a wildfire.
A High-Fire Danger Burn Ban was enacted across Washington County in July 2022. The ban prohibits backyard or open burning, agricultural burning, and any other land clearing, slash, stump, waste, debris, or controlled burning.
Forested watersheds supply most of Hillsboro’s drinking water. Remember, it is the responsibility of all of us to prevent human-caused wildfires, and by doing so, keeping our water sources protected.
Original source can be found here.
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